Bengal, Chatterjee Residence

"What?" 

Subhankar muttered, with a bit of shock as he gazed at Anirban, who folded his arms and looked away. His eldest aunt, Kadambari, was indeed a nagging one, and she was not at all pleased with the union. She had tried once or twice to talk with him, but he had always made an excuse and made his way out; until today. He may be expecting an outburst from her, and perhaps was ready for a lecture too. It was way better than engaging in verbal arguments that might end up disrespecting his aunt. 

But he wasn't expecting Saudamini to overhear everything. 

"She heard, she heard everything?" Subhankar lightly tugged his friend's shoulder, his eyebrows thinning. 

"I think so," His voice was sounding as he would choke. His throat turned dry for a moment, thinking about how exactly he would be confronting her. Given that the fact, her face expressed that she was clearly hurt. It was different, different than the annoyance she used to plaster on her face. 

A hurt woman was difficult to be calmed than an annoyed one; definitely. He wasn't ready for this at all. All his life if he had only consoled any girl it would be just Tripti. But Saudamini's case was different, she was his wife now. And whatever she had heard, she shouldn't have.

 She shouldn't have.

Society was harsh and is going to be in future too. They turn eyes over something which is generally termed unconventional, and their marriage is one too. Anirban himself had to pursue his father to allow the marriage happen, because he didn't believe in the conventions everyone did. On one hand they supported the Widow Remarriage Act, and on the other hand, didn't fail to comment on the ones who got remarried.

Diabolical society.

Was Anirban bothered by the fact that Saudamini had a previous husband? Not much, knowing more of the fact what had happened between them, he wasn't. 

But deep down, he had to admit the thrill of pursuing something against the conventions was definitely there. 

 Her fate shouldn't be sealed to sorrow because of her one mistake.  Deep down, there was that ego that had bubbled up inside him to show her how he was the one fit for her. 

And that should begin with his strengths, not weaknesses right?

Consoling a woman was definitely not in his strengths, he knew it. He may have pacified a few, but it was on a surface level. 

He had to console, Saudamini. It might not seem like a big deal for anybody, but it was for him. 

Being a man full of himself, he barely cared going out of bounds for someone; instantly brushing off something if it was not in his control. But, he definitely can't do the same thing with Saudamini. 

He can't.

"Anirban, son."  Mrs. Choudhury held his arm and ushered him to a corner with a solemn expression on her face. Anirban demurely glanced at her, feeling that the situation was tensed.

"Dear, my daughter really wants to move on, but her past keeps haunting her everytime. She wants everything just she won't say," She gripped his forearm, as he gazed at her, trying to contemplate her words.

"I know you like my daughter, don't you?" 

"I do..." Anirban gulped momentarily. 

"That's the reason I made her understand, and wrote to you everything. She is a bit impulsive Anirban, and turned cold, but she's not that from heart. Situations made her so, please don't judge her and give her a happy life, please...." She almost turned teary eyed, Anirban instantly held her palm, with a smile on his face. Her vulnerability kind of shook him to some extent. He knew about her past, but wasn't expecting that she would be affected by it still now, "She will warm up to you, she will, I know my daughter well. Please don't harbor anything against her, just for rejecting you that harshly..."

"Mrs. Choudhury, I understand you....I promise you I will take care of your daughter well." He smiled at her comfortingly, suddenly feeling the weight of responsibility in him. It was like adding fuel to the fire of his determination.

"Now what?" Subhankar sighed, looking at him. He knew his friend very well, and what he must be thinking.

"Trust me, I really don't know...." Anirban gulped, brushing his hairs. It would still have been easy to calm her down if someone outside his family had commented, but it was his own family member. And that too upon her pride and respect? 

Women may keep quiet and bear it, but deep down it hurts. It does. 

Anirban gazed at the room on the opposite side, where the ladies had taken Saudamini, for their first night. It was this day he was eagerly waiting for after his marriage; he was forbidden to share a room with her till then, until today. All his excitement regarding everything had gone down the drain. The elderly women giggled along with Tripti as they came out. 

She shot Anirban a teasing look and winked at him, making his situation no better. He pretended to roll his eyes and smile at her. The ladies strode towards him, as he tried to smile.

"Best of luck," One of them patted his shoulder, "I hope you won't freak out!" 

He already was.

"Of course he won't! My boy is such a stud, you all don't know!"

His entire sense of being stud had been flushed through the drain.

"We hope that the bed is intact you know..." They teased and talked amidst themselves, chuckling. 

Bed? He didn't know about the bed but he wished for himself to be intact right then.

.

.

.

A property of another man.

A soul who slept with other men on the behest of her pitiful state.

She heard them. Clearly. But was it anything new? No it wasn't. Such words a always bestowed on women who had fates like her. She recalled how her mother had made her sit beside her and indirectly asked her not to belittle herself if words like those were hurled upon her. She said everything would take time to fit in. 

True, having a luxury like the Chatterjee estate was way more precious that a few words hurled here and there. She had haughtily thought that moment, not realizing what her mother had actually meant to say. 

She felt herself curling her fists, now that she was alone. All the while pretending she was happy and excited about her first night. Anger bubbled through her veins, her jaws clenched tightly as she reminisced the face of Kadambari and the haughtiness with which she dared to judge her. 

Nothing could seem to pacify her right then. Not her mother's words nor the temperament that widowed woman always hear those words; there is nothing new in that. 

In her entire life she hadn't allowed anyone to tarnish with her pride, now someone had the audacity to question her chastity? 

Saudamini silently began to undo her heavy earrings one by one after dropping the veil. She was a bit impulsive, she had been reprimanded about it several times, though it had tamed down a lot since the two years; there were always chances for it to bubble up again. 

She felt the door of her chamber creaking after a while, making her hold her breath momentarily. 

"Mini?" She heard his soft voice, now laid with a gravity. 

She breathed in, thinning her brows as she continued to slip the golden bangles from her wrists. There was a momentary silence, and she felt he was thinking about words.

"Are.....you upset?" 

No! She is rejoicing in revelry for being called a prostitute!

She felt like answering him back, but sense made her halt back. 

"Why did you marry me?" She turned slightly towards him, as she questioned him sharply. 

★★★★★★★★★

A/N

Hogaya 🤣

Bechara Anirban 👀 Par ye zaroori hai, bande ke confidence kuch zyada hi ucha hogaya tha.🌝

Well this reminds me like how Arjun pacified Drau everytime 🙈✨

Signing off for today!

Nushkie